Scottish Wastewater Scottish Wastewater TreatmentTreatment

David KellockDavid Kellock

Introduction to Introduction to WastewaterWastewater

What is wastewater?What is wastewater? Wastewater is liquid waste from humans and Wastewater is liquid waste from humans and

their general activities; mainly residential and their general activities; mainly residential and industrial.industrial.

Wastewater is vegetable, chemical, Wastewater is vegetable, chemical,

mineral or animal matter in solution mineral or animal matter in solution

or suspension.or suspension.

Introduction to Introduction to WastewaterWastewater

Why do we need to treat waste Why do we need to treat waste water?water? In Scotland, and Glasgow especially In Scotland, and Glasgow especially

during the industrial revolution (18during the industrial revolution (18thth and 19and 19thth century) tenement buildings century) tenement buildings were built to house the huge influx of were built to house the huge influx of workers from all over Scotland and workers from all over Scotland and Ireland. Ireland.

Introduction to Introduction to WastewaterWastewater

Why do we need to treat waste water?Why do we need to treat waste water?

The tenement buildings (usually 4 stories high, The tenement buildings (usually 4 stories high, red sandstone) became dangerously red sandstone) became dangerously overcrowded, which lead to the spread of disease.overcrowded, which lead to the spread of disease.

This disease was mainly due to the cramped This disease was mainly due to the cramped conditions and the lack of toilets, which forced conditions and the lack of toilets, which forced people to throw their excrement out the window! people to throw their excrement out the window! They shouted Gardyloo!They shouted Gardyloo!

This severe problem lead to the development of This severe problem lead to the development of sewage drains and improved toilet facilities.sewage drains and improved toilet facilities.

But the sewage drains flowed straight into the But the sewage drains flowed straight into the major river running through the city of Glasgow: major river running through the city of Glasgow: The River Clyde.The River Clyde.

Introduction to Introduction to WastewaterWastewater

The river Clyde quickly became one of the The river Clyde quickly became one of the most polluted rivers in the world. most polluted rivers in the world.

People were getting sick from the fumes People were getting sick from the fumes and they had to work around the river in and they had to work around the river in the ship building industries around the the ship building industries around the Clyde, the smell became almost Clyde, the smell became almost unbearable.unbearable.

This is when the waste water treatment This is when the waste water treatment plants in Scotland were developed.plants in Scotland were developed.

The River Clyde:The River Clyde:

Water Standards In Water Standards In Great BritainGreat Britain

Standards have a variety of aims:Standards have a variety of aims: The protection of wildlife and natureThe protection of wildlife and nature Controlling risks to the quality of water Controlling risks to the quality of water

extracted and supplied to our homes, or that extracted and supplied to our homes, or that used for irrigation in farming.used for irrigation in farming.

They ensure that our enjoyment of things such They ensure that our enjoyment of things such as boating, fishing and white water rafting are as boating, fishing and white water rafting are maintained.maintained.

Water Standards In Water Standards In Great BritainGreat Britain

The Urban Wastewater Treatment The Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive:Directive: Regulates the collection and treatment of Regulates the collection and treatment of

wastewater from our homes and industries.wastewater from our homes and industries. Protects the environment from the Protects the environment from the

negative effects of urban waste and negative effects of urban waste and discharges from industrial sectors.discharges from industrial sectors.

The UWWT act was implemented in 1994.The UWWT act was implemented in 1994. This act also banned the disposal of sludge This act also banned the disposal of sludge

into the sea in 1998.into the sea in 1998.

How Do we Treat the How Do we Treat the Wastewater?Wastewater?

The basics steps The basics steps are outlined in are outlined in the diagram:the diagram:

1) Preliminary 1) Preliminary treatmenttreatment – – speed of water speed of water reduces, debris reduces, debris settles in grit settles in grit tanks; tanks; mechanical bar mechanical bar screen collects screen collects other foreign other foreign matter.matter.

How Do we Treat the How Do we Treat the Wastewater?Wastewater?

2) Primary treatment2) Primary treatment – allows – allows the physical separation of solids the physical separation of solids and grease from the wastewater; and grease from the wastewater; removes between 30-40% of removes between 30-40% of Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and 50% of Total Suspended Solids and 50% of Total Suspended Solids (TSS).(TSS). wastewater flows into a settling wastewater flows into a settling

tanktank it sits for several hoursit sits for several hours the mechanical arm rotates and the mechanical arm rotates and

collects floating fats, oils and collects floating fats, oils and grease (FOG) which is sent to grease (FOG) which is sent to landfill. landfill.

Settled material: primary sludgeSettled material: primary sludge

How Do we Treat the How Do we Treat the Wastewater?Wastewater?

3) Secondary treatment3) Secondary treatment Secondary treatment is a Secondary treatment is a

biological treatment.biological treatment. removes up to removes up to 90%90% of BOD of BOD

and TSS. and TSS. effluent is pumped to the effluent is pumped to the

secondary treatment stage. secondary treatment stage. Micro-organisms eat the Micro-organisms eat the

organic matter.organic matter. The micro-organisms The micro-organisms

create a solid organic create a solid organic material (sludge)material (sludge)

Secondary sludge is also Secondary sludge is also thickened and pumped to thickened and pumped to digesters for processing and digesters for processing and solids processing (similar to solids processing (similar to the sludge from 1).the sludge from 1).

How Do we Treat the How Do we Treat the Wastewater?Wastewater?

4) Final treatment4) Final treatment The remaining wastewater The remaining wastewater

is is disinfecteddisinfected to kill to kill harmful micro-organisms.harmful micro-organisms.

Then released into Then released into receiving waters. many receiving waters. many methods available to kill methods available to kill micro-organisms: micro-organisms: ultravioletultraviolet and and sulphursulphur based chemical addition based chemical addition are the most common. are the most common.

At this stage, the final At this stage, the final effluent, is discharged into effluent, is discharged into the marine environment. the marine environment.

What Happens With the What Happens With the WWaste?aste?

5) Solids processing5) Solids processing Solids from the primary settling Solids from the primary settling

tank and from the clarifier are tank and from the clarifier are sent to digesters for processing. sent to digesters for processing.

The afore mentioned micro-The afore mentioned micro-organisms produce methane and organisms produce methane and water.water.

Digestion results in a 90% Digestion results in a 90% reduction of pathogens and the reduction of pathogens and the production of a wet soil-like production of a wet soil-like material called "material called "biosolidsbiosolids" that " that contain 95-97% water. contain 95-97% water.

To remove water:To remove water:mechanical equipment such as a mechanical equipment such as a belt filter press or centrifuge are belt filter press or centrifuge are used to squeeze water from the used to squeeze water from the biosolids to reduce its volume. biosolids to reduce its volume.

Whiskey!!!

What is special about the What is special about the Glen Ord Whiskey Glen Ord Whiskey

Distillery?Distillery? In 2001 this Whiskey company became In 2001 this Whiskey company became

the first in the UK to use a the first in the UK to use a revolutionary waste water treatment revolutionary waste water treatment method!method!

Biobed Modular Plant (MP) technology.Biobed Modular Plant (MP) technology. High rate granular treatment for High rate granular treatment for

wastewater with low COD loads. wastewater with low COD loads.

The Glen Ord Distillery:The Glen Ord Distillery:

What is special about the What is special about the Glen Ord Whiskey Glen Ord Whiskey

Distillery?Distillery? The technology was developed by Biothane The technology was developed by Biothane

Systems International.Systems International. Plant Capacity: 1000Kg COD/dayPlant Capacity: 1000Kg COD/day Recieves maximum flow: 908mRecieves maximum flow: 908m33/day/day Since installation the plantSince installation the plant

has consistently treating has consistently treating

the distilleries effluent.the distilleries effluent. Achieves BOD and COD Achieves BOD and COD

reductions exceeding 90% reductions exceeding 90%

and 80%!and 80%!

More About the MP More About the MP TechnologyTechnology

A fully pre-engineered design concept.A fully pre-engineered design concept. Makes possible the extension of granular anaerobic Makes possible the extension of granular anaerobic

technology to small COD loads- below 3000Kg/day.technology to small COD loads- below 3000Kg/day. Innovative step: high turn-down ratio in Innovative step: high turn-down ratio in

comparison.comparison. Deals with fluctuating COD very well.Deals with fluctuating COD very well. Pre fabrication leads to short Pre fabrication leads to short

installation timeinstallation time Biothane won the IWEX award Biothane won the IWEX award

for their Biobed system in 2001.for their Biobed system in 2001.

BibliographyBibliography http://www.rdn.bc.ca/cms.asp?wpID=1164http://www.rdn.bc.ca/cms.asp?wpID=1164 http://www.water-technology.net/projects/glen_ohttp://www.water-technology.net/projects/glen_o

rd/rd/ http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/

waterquality/252005/?version=1&lang=_ewaterquality/252005/?version=1&lang=_e

Thank you for your Thank you for your attentionattention